e0y2e3 wrote:Just finished seasons 1 and 2, as AMC has been running them On Demand. Season 3 goes up tonight, so I'll finish it before jumping into season 4.

Damn solid show.

Next year I'm going to do the same catch up on Breaking Bad, since AMC starts running all seasons of their shows to catch up a couple of months before the season premiers.

Although my best friend has laid out an argument that Breaking Bad is better than The Wire, so I already hate it because that is not possible.

I just finished season 1 of the Wire. Obviously I will have to see more before drawing any conclusions but Season 1 was astounding. I think in the end The Wire will win out (and I only think that because it's living up to the hype). But it will be close. That's how good BB is.

FUDU wrote:Cant wait, I think Don and Roger have a rough go of it, they'll be at each others throats. I also think Joan gets unleashed this season hopefully completely unleashed.

I think you're right about Don and Roger. I can't say I'm wild about it though. I love it when those 2 are on the same page. Don't like it as much when they are "fighting" or whatever you want to call it.

In 2000, while working as a staff writer for Becker, Matthew Weiner wrote the first draft for the pilot of what would later be called Mad Men as a spec script.[7][8] Television producer David Chase recruited Weiner to work as a writer on his HBO series The Sopranos after reading the pilot script in 2002.[7][9] "It was lively, and it had something new to say," Chase said. "Here was someone [Weiner] who had written a story about advertising in the 1960s, and was looking at recent American history through that prism."[9] Weiner set the pilot script aside for the next seven years – during which time neither HBO nor Showtime expressed interest in the project[7][8]—until The Sopranos was completing its final season and cable network AMC happened to be in the market for new programming.[9] "The network was looking for distinction in launching its first original series," according to AMC Networks president Ed Carroll "and we took a bet that quality would win out over formulaic mass appeal."[7][10]

Just an FYI for AT&T Uverse customers, I heard there is a contract dispute between AT&T and whomever and if not resolved by tonight or tomorrow midnight AMC (along with a few other channels) with be removed from the Uverse catalog...meaning no Mad Men for you.

Might want to look into it, make some disgruntled phone calls.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"

I am completely psyched about the premiere of this show tonight. From all accounts I have read of this season, they are good and thankfully provide little spoilers. I think the departure of the Sterling Cooper office opens a world of possibilities for storylines and character growth. Cannot wait for this evening!

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

Man, oh man. I was expecting a lot of change, but this is almost like a whole different show with all the change of scenery. Weiner somehow managed to take a show already established in its greatness and reinvent it.

It's still great, but I'm surprised (and impressed) that Weiner has the balls to leave so many memorable characters stranded at the old S&C. I'll definitely miss Kenny Cosgrove's icy coolness, Paul Kinsey's insufferable pretentiousness, and Sal Romano's charming gayness.

Ken Cosgrove is definitely going to be featured. Sal definitely is not. Not sure about Paul.

Awesome first episode...although I have to admit I was almost hoping that when Henry and Betts were making out in the garage that maybe they forgot that the car was running and they both died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Don having to resort to hookers? Wow.

Love the concepts of the first episode...especially taking them from a fat and happy successful agency to one having to fight and scratch to survive.

Roger Sterling stole that episode again with his one liners.. "Go out tonight and if you are lucky for Thanksgiving, you can stuff her." LMAO

In all seriousness though, great first episode. Each character evolved or changed a lot but held on to why we like, or in some cases dislike (paging Betty..), in the first place. Its as if a whole new Don Draper is going to form this season. When he kicked those clients out of the office, it was excellent. Its like anger is the underlying theme of the season.

I like the supporting cast more as well but please, for the love of god, more Joan.

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

jack_tors wrote:When he kicked those clients out of the office, it was excellent. Its like anger is the underlying theme of the season.

I didn't sense outright anger. That was as calculated a PR move as Peggy puppeteering that supermarket bitchfight for the last ham. Don wanted the public to know that he's at the forefront of the new guard and those old farts who didn't want to show skin is the old guard. He couldn't get that WSJ reporter on the phone fast enough after that stunt.

Roger Sterling stole that episode again with his one liners.. "Go out tonight and if you are lucky for Thanksgiving, you can stuff her" LMAO

It is not going to end well for his secretary, Allison. Bad enough that he totally dissed her the night after drunkenly taking advantage of her...next week it looks like he's asking her to accompany him somewhere. Bad move on her part to accept.

What the eff is Peggy doing with that loser? Laughed my ass off when he was talking to her as if she were a virgin.

Not sure how I feel about Freddy being back. The guy may have been the one who recognized Peggy's talent, but he's just too clueless.

I do know how I feel about Glen being back...Creepiest. Kid. Ever.

Lee Garner, Jr.: The man most deserving to end up on Dexter Morgan's table (yes, I am allowed to mix my quality TV show metaphors). I was really hoping that Roger would just kick him in the balls, and then we could see how SterlingCooperDraperPrice could do without the Big Tobacco safety net.

So who does Don bang next: the southern nurse neighbor or the blonde research doctor?

No kidding on Glen. That kid is fantastic. I just found out the other day that he's actually the son of the creator Matt Weiner. So his old man is writing that material for him. Yikes. Whatever, the kid is perfectly cast.

I do feel a little bad for the secretary, but on the other hand, what the hell was she expecting? It's Don Effing Draper. She knows how it works. At least she should. Did she think she was his girlfriend now?

As far as Peggy, I just think she's lonely and has nothing better to do. She doesn't really like him, but is taking pity on him. As Freddy said, Blue Balls are "very uncomfortable physically."

You think that would work? If I told a girl "You're so hot that it's giving me blue balls, which is very uncomfortable physically. Can you help me out?"

So all of you guys are going to ignore the fact that Don not closing the deal w/ the nurse, PR lady and young chick he went out on a date w/ is a symptom of his continued drunken downward spiral?

Old Don would have closed all three of them w/out even trying. Fuck, they probably would have just jumped on him w/ out him even asking.

This Don smells bad and it's putting the ladies off. Beyond Allison, who obviously has had a long term thing fantasy involving Don, as you can clearly tell from her reactions, he's failing at every turn, and is just living out that fantasy for a few minutes before even she eventually smells new Don.

Not sure when he'll pull out of it, but his failure w/ the women is not simply a "well, when is he going to bang em" thing and is really "wow, Don Draper just didn't bang them" thing.

e0y2e3 wrote:So all of you guys are going to ignore the fact that Don not closing the deal w/ the nurse, PR lady and young chick he went out on a date w/ is a symptom of his continued drunken downward spiral?

Old Don would have closed all three of them w/out even trying. Fuck, they probably would have just jumped on him w/ out him even asking.

This Don smells bad and it's putting the ladies off. Beyond Allison, who obviously has had a long term thing fantasy involving Don, as you can clearly tell from her reactions, he's failing at every turn, and is just living out that fantasy for a few minutes before even she eventually smells new Don.

Not sure when he'll pull out of it, but his failure w/ the women is not simply a "well, when is he going to bang em" thing and is really "wow, Don Draper just didn't bang them" thing.

Nailed it. It isn't a coincidence that he's striking out right now, and I don't think it's just a matter of when he nails those women. I think Don is still half a season away from rock bottom. And, the ride down is going to be bumpy as hell.

I do think he'll eventually pull out of it and resume being "Don Draper, Wool Puller Extraordinaire." The show is simply better off with a cool Don. I don't think it works long term with "Loser Don Who Can't Get Laid." But right now it's a cool arc.

e0y2e3 wrote:So all of you guys are going to ignore the fact that Don not closing the deal w/ the nurse, PR lady and young chick he went out on a date w/ is a symptom of his continued drunken downward spiral?

Don walked on them, not vice verse. So I don't get your take there, Lee. More? Is there a foreshadowing reason for an AA chatacter on the set this year? That what you're thinking?

metalhead9x9 wrote:So along with the many other things he's learned on his freefall to rock bottom, Don has found out that pimpin ain't easy.

And then you're going to also add the impending death of Anna, who seems to be his only rock to cling to during this time...

Don Draper cant catch a break this season.. well at least through the end of 1965. Gonna wonder what direction he goes. After episode 1 of this season, I thought he was going hard core prick, Wall St type. Now this episode shows he had heart in his dealings with Anna and was decent to Lane by showing him a good time. A lot of conflicting behavior this season..

Finally, more Joan. Keep it up Weiner.

And if this season has shown anything, its that the show is BETTER without Peter Campbell. Just show his hot wife and let him stand in the background.

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

This show just keeps getting better and better. I love how Don schooled Ted. And as Mitch said, Don's new secreatary is hilarious. Oh, and i think Joan's husband bites it first. And it was just a matter of time before Roger went nuts on someone.

metalhead9x9 wrote:So along with the many other things he's learned on his freefall to rock bottom, Don has found out that pimpin ain't easy.

He's gonna struggle his way until he finally hooks up with research psychologist and have a grown up meaningful relationship and get his shit together.

Meanwhile, the REAL shit hitiing the fan is Sally getting psychiatric care at last. I predict it will come out that Granpappy Gene was touchin on her. Betty will deny and freak out only for it to come out that he did it to her and her Mother stoned her when she tried to bring it up and get help as a kid, and that's why she's such a cold, repressed, screwed up c***. Don will hit the roof and Betty will fall apart. Don may end up with the kids. BTW - Henry Francis is a joke. Betty hates him.

metalhead9x9 wrote:So along with the many other things he's learned on his freefall to rock bottom, Don has found out that pimpin ain't easy.

He's gonna struggle his way until he finally hooks up with research psychologist and have a grown up meaningful relationship and get his shit together.

Meanwhile, the REAL shit hitiing the fan is Sally getting psychiatric care at last. I predict it will come out that Granpappy Gene was touchin on her. Betty will deny and freak out only for it to come out that he did it to her and her Mother stoned her when she tried to bring it up and get help as a kid, and that's why she's such a cold, repressed, screwed up c***. Don will hit the roof and Betty will fall apart. Don may end up with the kids. BTW - Henry Francis is a joke. Betty hates him.

Calling it all.

I could see that all working out, JB. There was definitely some tension in the room while Don and the Doc were sipping Saki.

And the grandpa is most definitely a pederast. 8 yr olds dude. Signs of his abuse are everywhere in this show.

Also, as someone else said, this was definitely Pete's best episode of the series. I normally hate him but he was quite good in this episode. Nice moral dilemma they put Roger in, damned if he does, damned if he doesnt.

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

jack_tors wrote:Also, as someone else said, this was definitely Pete's best episode of the series. I normally hate him but he was quite good in this episode. Nice moral dilemma they put Roger in, damned if he does, damned if he doesnt.

It is a nice example of the times changing in microcasm, isn't it?

The bottom falling out of tobacco advertizing on TV and the rise of imports.

I hope this show has many more seasons so we can see Peggy move to Haight-Ashbury and Don invent Joe camel.

Best line was from Joan; "You've crossed the border from lubricated to morose".

Don thinking he was bedding a hot groupie when in fact he was banging the homely Waffle House waitress?

Peggy getting naked to show up the blowhard?

Kenny Cosgrove coming onboard?

And the whole flashback sequence of Don pestering Roger into a job...works on several levels; Roger feeling totally inadequate, passed over by Don...and now the midget cousin of Roger's trophy wife coming in to SCDP the same way Don did earlier.

mitch wrote:Don thinking he was bedding a hot groupie when in fact he was banging the homely Waffle House waitress?

Interetsing Mitch, I read it differently piring it with missing his parenting time (putz).

I think he did do that groupie and then kept drinking and had a two - thre day bender old school Days of Wine and Roses crazy hallucinating alcoholic portrayal. (Which I never understood, much llke refer madness) If the awards thing was Friday, he hooks up with groupie, and then what wasn't shown was grouping leaving, Don continuing to drink like a wild man, he goes out for maintenence eating and picks up Waffle House girl. FF to the call waking him un on Sunday late morning.

You add that to his drunken pitch to Life cereal that was a farce, Peggy carrying his ass more and more, and you see a man headed for a horrific fall. His quality oif work blows, his quality of life blows, and yet he's never been more celebrated.

Yeah that was a two day bender for him, IMO two completely different women.

Interesting to note that the lives of Don and Betty have both declined since they split up, making me wonder that despite it not working out with them together maybe they need each other to survive (in some strange way). Is one of the deeper routed goals of all this going to be to put them two back together at some point? I really don't see Henry being a part of any of this down the line, they're gonna kill him off with a heart attack or something.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"